Burnham Harbor – Chicago, IL

Situated along Lake Michigan, the Great Lakes’ second largest waterway by volume, 600 parks, 70 nature sanctuaries and 25 miles of open lakefront make up the gorgeous city of Chicago. The Chicago Harbors consist of the largest municipally owned harbor system in the United States as they span 14 miles of lakeshore ranging in  everything from plush, Read More

Reefpoint Marina – Racine, WI

Situated on the coast of Lake Michigan between Chicago and Milwaukee, Reefpoint Marina is a dazzling Great Lakes gem. The spacious, full-service marina is the largest in Wisconsin with 921 floating slips in a resort-style atmosphere, accommodating boats up to 130 feet. Upscale amenities include an outdoor heated pool, two hot tubs, fire pits and fuel Read More

St Lawrence Seaway Cruise

Queen Elizabeth II and President Dwight D. Eisenhower officially opened the St Lawrence Seaway on June 26, 1959 in a dedication ceremony near the harbor of Montreal, Canada. After some speeches, the two leaders boarded the royal yacht Britannia and sailed through one of the seaway’s new locks. According to on-site British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) reporting, Read More

Lake Champlain – A Mystery

In 2015, one chapter of our life closed, and a new chapter opened for my wife Claudia and me. We sold our home, changed course and went “all in” by moving aboard our new-to-us 1981, 43-foot Viking aft cabin cruiser. Thus, began a grand adventure as full-time cruisers exploring our country from the perspective of Read More

Marinalife’s 2020 Best Marina Contest

This past year was monumental for Marinalife, as we celebrated our magazine’s 20th anniversary. Among all of the contests and celebrations, one of our most highly anticipated competitions was the 2020 Best Marina Contest. Each year, participants cast thousands of votes for top-notch marinas that provide exceptional customer service and hospitality to guests.  The winners Read More

Glass Bottom Boats – See Beneath the Waves

“All aboard on the glass bottom boat, it’s the greatest show that was ever afloat. Take a ride on the tide with the guide and see, the way out wonders of the deep blue sea.” Actress Doris Day sang these words in the 1966 MGM film entitled – no surprise – The Glass Bottom Boat. Read More

Green Bay, Wisconsin

TO ANSWER THE QUESTION “What makes Green Bay green?” go back about 400 years to when French fur traders first explored the area. They found the lower part of the bay was often coated with bright green algae, a fragrant slick that gave rise to the name La Baie des Puants or “the bay of Read More

This or That: Lake Michigan vs. Lake Huron

LAKE MICHIGAN Location Chicago, Milwaukee, Grand Rapids — to name a few — these major cities all border Lake Michigan. More than 1,600 miles of coastline are flanked by Wisconsin’s east coast and Michigan’s west coast, reaching all the way down to Illinois and Indiana. It is the second-largest Great Lake by volume. History Lake Read More

Saugatuck, Michigan

Tucked into western Michigan’s sunset coast, Saugatuck is a delightful blend of beach town, shopping paradise, foodie heaven and artist colony. With its pristine shoreline, soft sands and rolling grass-covered dunes, Saugatuck is a frequent topic for national travel magazines, gaining a reputation as one of the top beach towns in the world. Oval Beach Read More

The Lake Erie Islands – Weekend Warrior

The Lake Erie Islands are located just north of Sandusky, OH, and include Kelleys Island, Pelee Island, the Bass Islands and several other smaller islands. The majority are part of the State of Ohio, but Pelee Island is actually part of Ontario, Canada. These sparsely populated islands, with fewer than 1,000 year-round residents altogether, are Read More